AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 155 



Dr. Hosack liad accumulated in 1806 no less than 1,738 varieties of the 

 most interesting plants. 



While Dr. Hosack was thus nobly striving to make us a Jardin dea 

 Plantes, his favorite scholar, young Dr. Francis, was nobly siriving to 

 form a Historical Society, and I, as an early member thereof was greatly 

 surprised to learn that he, out of his early professional earnings had con- 

 tributed to this favorite of his no less than eight thousand dollars. I do 

 not know that he was ever reimbursed ; but I do know that seventy thou- 

 sand dollars from his learned master Hosack for a garden, and eight thou- 

 sand dollars from his learned scholar Francis for History, were remarka- 

 ble for their greatness, and stand forth now as monuments to their fame. 

 I therefore record the facts in our American Institute. The State nobly 

 prints its annual Transactions, and we send them to all the nations. 



The Secretary then read the following translations and papers, prepared 

 by him since last meeting : 



[Jouniale de la Societe Imperiale et Centrale d'Horticulture. — Napoleon 3d, Protecteur. 



Paris, March, 1869.] 



THE INSECT DESTROYER 



Has proved of great utility. Lyon, who first introduced it here, received 

 a silver medal from the American Institute. The powder was tried and 

 proved to be not dangerous to human beings, while it destroyed insects. 

 It is now stated to be a species of Chamomile, the Pyrfthrum rosenm of 

 Biebers, and the Pyrethrum carneum, also. The powder of these obtained 

 the name of Lowizachek in Armenia — of Biig Jloioer — Powder of 

 Persia. 



Mons. Gehin has emplowed for the same purpose, successfully, the Stink- 

 ing Chamomile, Anthemis cotula, which abounds in uncultivated fields, 

 throughout France. The Russians of the Crimea use Aristolochia Clema- 

 titis for the same purpose. In Ragusa and all Dalmatia, they use a Cru- 

 cifer, the Lepidium ruderale. They pulverize the whole plant. The 

 Insectiade powder is made of the flowers, seldom of the leaves. In Paris 

 they use a saw dust from the cedar family, commonly called American 

 cedar, Cailcectra, the Cedrela odorata of Linnaeus. The powder of Cha- 

 momiles has been well proved to be of remarkable efficacy. Their cultiva- 

 tion is now extensive in several parts of Europe. The Pyrethrum of 

 Willemot is hardy, flourishes near Paris. It resembles the two others, 

 the Roseiim and Carneum. It prefers to grow in dry, sandy land, with 

 southern exposure. Sow it in April — set out the plants in May. The 

 good plants will flower from May to Autumn. 



HISTORY OP THE CALENDAR. — BY W. A. DUPUIS. 



It condemns the foolish, blind faith in Almanac weather predictions. 



The Imperial and Central Society of Horticulture, Napoleon 3d, Pro- 

 tecteur, Paris, has nearly 2,000 members, of first class men and women. 

 Of the latter — ladies of first rank, as patronesses, about 163. 



